Baby John is another remake starring Varun Dhawan, who began his solo career with the remake of Kandireega. Directed by Kalees, this film is a remake of Atlee’s 2016 hit Theri. The movie marks Keerthy Suresh’s official Bollywood debut and features Jackie Shroff as the antagonist. Wamiqa Gabbi plays another significant role. Let’s review it here.
Story: John, alias Baby John (Varun Dhawan), lives a peaceful life with his daughter Khushi (Zara), running a bakery in a remote village in Kerala. However, things take a turn when Tara (Wamiqa Gabbi) enters their lives following an accident. How does Baby John handle the challenges she brings? Why is he living in such a secluded village? What is his past? These questions form the crux of the story.
Performances: The character of Baby John brings Varun Dhawan closer to the mass audience. His performance not only highlights action sequences but also delivers emotional depth, making the film appealing to both mass and family audiences. Keerthy Suresh plays a typical heroine role, while Wamiqa Gabbi surprises with her performance. The twist in her character and her action scenes provide a satisfying impact. Jackie Shroff once again showcases his experience and talent. In the original, the antagonist had limited screen time, but the Hindi version expanded his role significantly.
Technical Aspects: Thaman’s background score, although reminiscent of Telugu films, successfully enhances the heroism. The rap song injects energy into the film. Ruben’s editing ensures smooth transitions between scenes, contributing to the overall cinematic experience. The cinematography complements the editing, and the producers have spared no expense, resulting in a high-quality output.
Analysis: Remakes often run the risk of becoming dull, recycling previously seen scenes. However, Baby John avoids this pitfall. The filmmakers’ attention to detail and the addition of new elements ensure that the film remains engaging throughout.
With its combination of mass appeal and emotional connection, Baby John has the potential to elevate Varun Dhawan to the next level of stardom. Director Kalees, along with writers Atlee and Sumit Arora, adds a Bollywood touch to the screenplay rather than opting for a frame-to-frame remake of Theri.
Minor yet effective changes ensure that even viewers familiar with the original don’t feel bored. The handling of the emotional “girl missing” episode and the subsequent investigation is commendable. The action blocks in the film are quite good and showcase Varun Dhawan in a cool avatar. The masses will love the film for sure.
Verdict: Overall, Baby John is a masala film that takes Varun Dhawan’s image to another level. While the story is routine and the length is higher, the emotions and mass elements work in favor of this film.
Bottom Line: Varun Dhawan kills it
Rating: 3/5
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